"The Privileged Poor" author's ideas for how colleges can improve

Don’t misunderstand Anthony Abraham Jack — he certainly approves of elite colleges’ efforts to admit students of all financial backgrounds.

A true effort to increase diversity, though, shouldn’t stop at the admissions office, he argues in a new book called The Privileged Poor.

Instead, academia should be made aware of the subtle (or obvious) ways in which the system is designed for affluent students, or even lower-income students who've attended quality high schools versus struggling ones.

Think of how residence halls shut down over breaks, on the assumption that students are either returning home or heading off to a vacation.

Or of how mental health and career service offices operate on the assumption that students know they exist and understand to seek their help when needed.

Jack discusses his thoughts on how colleges can truly become more welcoming to students of all backgrounds with NPR’s Elissa Nadworny; you can read more from their conversation here.